Dies and die presses



March 12, 1957 Filed March 25, 1953 4 Sheetsk-Sheet l 7 1 VirgJIHCaPIson 1N VEN TOR.

1 BY I q I ,Q

HIS AGENT March 12, 1957 v. H. cARLsoN 2,784,762 DIES AND DIE PRgssEs Filed March 25, 1953 4 Shaets-Sheet 2 e F I g. 2

m B fze 0 A5 /7 o o I/i'rgi] H Carlson INVENTOR.

away/m5 HIS A GENT Mam}! 1957 v. H. CARLSONV 2,784,762

DIES AND DIE PRESSES Filed March 25, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.4 5 Fig.5

\HHlllll Carlson INVENTOR.

Q/WMM HISAGENT- Virgil H.

March 12, 1957 -v. H. CARLSON 2,784,7521

DIES AND DIE PRESSES Filed March 25, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Virgil 11. Carlson u INVENTOR.

BY I Qf. "'4

HIS AGENT United States Patent DIES AND PRESSES Virgil H. Carlson, Wichita Falls,Tex.

Application March 25, 1953, Serial No. 344,621

8 Claims. 1 (Cl. 153--48) This invention relates to improvements in dies and die presses and more particularly to dies and die presses used in re-forming cavities in pans, such as bread pans, pastry pans and the like, that have become dented or misshapen from rough usage.

Heretofore when bakery pans became dented or misshapen it was usually necessary to discard them, even though they were good otherwise, because the products of the bakery must be uniformly formed.

Various dies have been proposed heretofore for initially stamping pans for certain bakery products, and other pans, such as bread pans and the like are formed of folded metal so as to form the loaf in the correct sizeand shape.

The present invention enables the reforming of dented or damaged pans to their original shape and so prolong their useful life. Due to the wide variety in the size and shape of pans used, no one die combination, that is, male and female die, would fit all pans, and since the number of shapes and sizes of pans is varied both in width and length, a great number of dies for re-forming such pans would be required, that is a die combination for each type of pan, which would be so expensive as to be impractical and require so much equipment as to be cumbersome or impossible to move from commercial bakery to commercial bakery, unless a large truck were employed.

In the present invention a press embodying special characteristics is provided, which press is mounted for portability and which may be erected into a self-contained unit for operation on pans that vary in size and shape.

The present invention provides male and female dies in multiple units, the spacing between which units may be varied, and both the length and width of each die member may be varied, so that with a fewaocessory parts, a wide variety of rectangular male and female dies may be formed on the respective die members for complementary engagement, one with the other, for re-forming a wide variety of multiple-unit rectangular pans.

Bakery pans are usually bound together in units of four, therefore, the die press and dies are shown to be operable on two cavities of pans simultaneously, and 'by reversing the pan unit, the pans may be completely re-for'med with two strokes of the press.

An object of this invention is to provide a die combination for a die press wherein both dimensions of both the male and female dies may be varied, as Well as the transversespace between the cavities.

Another object of this invention is to provide a prtable die press that is readily adjustable, and which is adaptable for straightening pans of various sizes and cavity spacings.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a die press with a transverse head thereon for movingthe punch portion of the dies transversely, in order to get the correct spacing therebetween.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means whereby bakery pans of various sizes and shapes may be reformed quickly and inexpensively, that is simple to construct, easy to operate, and which will prolong the usefulness of bakery pans indefinitely.

With these objects in mind and others that will manifest themselves as the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts in the several views thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device embodying the invention, showing the die press mounted for portability and showing the motor vehicle to which it is connected in dashed outline, and showing the dies mounted on the die press;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the die press in upright position and showing the dies mounted thereon;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the die head and showing the ram dies mounted thereon in full outline, with parts shown in section, and showing an alternate position thereof in dotted outline;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan View of a portion of the female die showing a setting for one: size pan;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with the spacing between the cavities widened, and with the die cavities both widened and lengthened;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the fragmentary portion of the die, as shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the fragmentary portion of the die as shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the fragmentary portion of the die as shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the fragmentary portion of the die as shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view of one of the male portions of the die and showing the die in its smallest form;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, but showing the die enlarged to accommodate a much larger pan;

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view showing the male die attached to the die head by clamps, and showing the extended position thereof in dashed outline;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a portion of the male die, as shown in Fig. 12; and

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary end elevati-onal view of a portion of the male die, as shown in Fig. 13.

With more detailed reference to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a press which may be portable by being attachably mounted on axle which has wheels 3, one at each end of said mile, the axle being that of a motor vehicle that transports the device from place to place.

The press has a base 4 and upright side members 5 attached thereto and rising therefrom. The axle 2 has a support member 6 mounted thereon which support member receives in complementary relation one of the side members 5 and which support member is attachably secured to the side member 5 by bolts 7, as will be seen in Figs. 1 and 2. When the device is in use, the wheel and axle assembly may be left in place, or it may be removed. The forward end of one of the side members 5 is provided with a trailer hitch 8 which attaches the device to a motor vehicle for transportation.

Transverse frame members 10 are secured at the upper ends of the side members 5 to form a mounting for a ram assembly 11, such as a fluid actuated ram. In the present instance, and for purposes of illustration, the ram is shown to be hydraulically actuated, however, it is to be understood that the ram may be mechanically actuated or it may be acutated by fluid pressure means, as no claim is being made as to the manner of operating the ram.

A pair of transverse bed plate members 12, or sills, are provided within the length of side members 5 and are attached thereto by means of pins 13 to enable the ready adjustment vertically along the height of the side members 5 when in upright position, as shown in Fig. 2.

An electric motor 14 is mounted on the base 4, and a switch S is provided for the control of said motor. The motor 14 is connected in driving relation with a hydraulic pump 15 that withdraws hydraulic fluid from reservoir 16 through pipe 17 and discharges the hydraulic fluid through pipe 18 into valve 19 where it may be either by-passed back into the reservoir 16 or directed into pipe 20 to fluid actuated ram 11.

The fluid actuated ram 11 is of the single acting type and has a plunger 21, which plunger has a die head 22 mounted on the lower end thereof. The plunger 21 is extended hydraulically against tension of springs 23 that are attached to lugs 24 on die head 22. The other end of the springs 23 are attached to the transverse frame members 10, so upon release of pressure in valve 19 the springs will cause the piston to force the hydraulic fluid back through pipe 26, valve 19 and pipe 25 into fluid reservoir 16.

The die head 22 usually has a pair of male die assemblies 26 secured thereto, which die assemblies each include a mounting block assembly 28, a pair of clamps 3d, a forming die backing plate 32 and the expansible die which is generally designated at 34. Positioned below the male die and in complementarily arranged relation is a female die plate assembly designated generally at 36. This assembly 36 is secured to the plate members 12 by means of bolts 38.

The female die, designated generally at 36, is shown more in detail in Figs. 4 through 11, and the male die generally designated at 34, is shown more in detail in Figs. 12 to 16, inclusive.

The female die plate 40 has bars 42 at each end thereof and a bar 44 along a side thereof, also short bar portions 46 are positioned along another side so as to form an open throat 48 along a side of the die. The bars 42 and 44 and 46 are preferably square and of such thickness and height as to be threadably apertured to threadably receive adjustment bolts 50, 52 and 54, respectively. The bars 42, 44 and 46 are securely bolted to the female die plate 40 by means of bolts 56. Longitudinal bars 58 are positioned on each outer side of the female die plate 40 a spaced distance inward from side bars 44 and 46 and parallel thereto. A pair of longitudinal bars 60 are positioned near the center of the die plate 40 and are parallel to the longitudinal bars 58. The bars 58 and 60 are preferably provided with fillister head bolts 61, which pass therethrough and through the female die plate 46. The female die plate 449 has slots 62 formed in the lower side thereof which slots are shouldered so as to receive the respective nuts 64 in countersunk relation and yet maintain the nuts against rotation relative to the female die plate 40.

By loosening the fillister head bolts 61, the bars 58 may be moved transversely of the female die plate 41). Adjustment bolts 52 and 54 may be adjusted to hold the longitudinal bar 58 against outward movement. The longitudinal bars 60 have fillister head bolts 63 therethrough, which bolts 63 are similar to the bolts 61, and through the female die plate 40. A slot 68 is formed in the female die plate 40 to receive nuts 70. The slot 68 is similar to the slot 62, inasmuch as it is shouldered so as to receive the nuts '70 in countersunk relation to prevent relative rotation of the nuts relative to the female die plate 48. Upon loosening the fillister head bolts 63, the bars 69 may be moved as desired and the desired number of shims 66 inserted therebetween as may be required. Each of the bars 58 and 60 have a beveled or sloping side, which beveled sides are adjacent and complementary to the respective sides of the pan on which a straightening operation is being performed.

Transverse bars 72 are fitted between adjacent longitudinal bars 58 and 60 and at right angles thereto and which bars 72 form the end bars for shaping the ends of the pan on which the straightening operation is being performed. The bars 72 have their adjacent inner sides sloping, as will best be seen in Figs. 8 and 9 so as to complementarily engage the respective ends of the pan i, which is shown in dashed outline in Figs. 8 and 9. A mounting bar 74 is placed immediately rearward of bar 72, with the bar 74 having bolts 76 therethrough. Each bolt 76 has a nut 89 on the lower end thereof, which nut 78 and are screw-threaded into mounting bar 74, which bolts are tightened to apply pressure on clamps 78 to reain bar 72 in fixed relation with respect to female die plate 40.

While only one set of transverse bars 58 and 60 are required for each female die plate, it is preferable to have a moderate range of lengths of transverse bars 72, varying from the narrowest pan to be straightened, to the pan of maximum width. However, pans often vary in width by one-sixteenth of an inch, but it is only necessary to have transverse bars '72 of the approximate length that the pan is Wide. If the bar is shorter, within limits, than the width of the pan, it may be used satisfactorily.

Since some pans are so mounted that the distance between the pans varies, therefore shims 66 are provided to enable the die to be adjusted to complementarily receive the pans. The outer longitudinal bars 58 may be adjusted to the particular width and secured in place and the transverse bars 72 are adjusted to the particular width desired and screwed in place and the transverse bars 72 adjusted to the particular length and secured in place. Since most bakery pans are in units of four, two of the pans may be acted upon at one actuation of the plunger 21 and the other two, by reversing the pan unit, the pans not being straightened are allowed to extend out through open throat 45, and the other two cavities of the pans may be pressed into their original shape in the female die, designated at 36.

Since pans vary both as to width and length and in the spacing between the pans that make up a unit, it is also necessary for the male die to be adjusted to be complementary to the cavities Within the respective pans being acted upon, and the respective male dies must be so spaced as to provide the spacing of the cavities in the female die plate, so the proper operation may be performed on the pan.

The die head 22, as will best be seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 14, is of I-beam shape and has flanges extending outward at the base thereof. The mounting block assembly 28 has upstanding bosses 86 on the top thereof a spaced distance outward from the center so as to complementarily receive the flanges of the die head 22 therebetween. A pair of clamps 30 are secured to each end of the mounting block assembly 28 by means of bolts 88 so as to bindingly engage the out-turned flange portion of I-beam die head 22. By loosening the bolts 88, the male die assembly 26 may be adjusted along the die head assembly 22, as indicated in Fig. 3. Shims 90 may be inserted between die block assembly 28 and forming die backing plate 32 so as to enable the correct vertical adjustment of the die 34 relative to the plunger 21. It is preferable to have the forming die backing plate 32 of the size of the minimum male forming die to be used, substantially as shown in full outline in Figs. 14 and 15. When it is desired to perform an operation on a pan of minimum size, the die is assembled in the relation as shown in Fig. 12. The center die plate 92 is bolted to die block assembly 28 by means of bolts 94 to bindingly engage forming die backing plate 32 and shims 90 therebetween. Longitudinal side bars 96 are bolted to each side of the center die plate 92 by counter-sunk, fillister head bolts 98, and end bars 100 are bolted one at each end of the center die plate 92 by bolts 102, as will best be seen in Fig. 15, so as to maintain the end bars in fixed relation to the center die plate 92. By adding shims 104 intermediate center plate 92 and each of the longitudinal bars 96, the width of the die can be increased to the maximum width without disturbing the length of the end bars 100. However, when it is desirable to extend the length, shims 106 are used intermediate the ends of center die plate 72 and each of the end bars 100, substantially as shown in Fig. 13. However it is also desirable to use substantially correspondingly longer longitudinal side bars 96 on each side of the center die 92, so as to perform the proper forming operation on the pan P.

In varying the width and length of the male dies 34, it is preferable to have the ends of the bars 96 and the sides of the bars 100 in alignment, substantially as shown in Fig. 13. It will be seen that the adjustment of the male die assembly 26 longitudinally on die head 22 and making the individual adjustments of the male die members designated generally at 34, that a wide variety of male dies may be provided to complementarily engage with the female die 36, which may likewise be varied to suit the pan being worked upon. The versatility of the device thus becomes readily apparent.

Operation The device, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that is, the press and die assemblies are mounted for portability and may be taken directly to a bakery or other place, as is desired for use of the device, and by disconnecting the trailer hitch from the vehicle 9, the press may be set in upright position to operate on pans P. While it is not necessary to remove wheels 3, if it is desirable to do so, the entire trailer unit can be removed by removing bolts 7 from side frame members 5. By opening a vent valve V and connecting the electric motor 1.4 with a suitable source of electricity, the device is ready to operate.

The hydraulic fluid is withdrawn from reservoir 16 through pipe 17 into pump 15 and discharged out through pipe 18 into valve 19 and thence through pipe 20 into the cylinder of ram 11, and with the male die assembly designated generally at 34 fitted in place on die head 22 in complementary relation for engagement with the respective cavities of the female die 36, the device is ready for operation, and with the plunger 21 in the uppermost position, a multiple unit pan is placed in the respective female die cavities, then by manipulation of valve 19 hydraulic fluid under pressure is directed into cylinder or ram 11 to cause the plunger 21 to move downward into the pans, so as to press out dents and deformities and bring the pans back to their original shape. If the pan unit is of greater multiple length than the two cavities, the pan unit is reversed so that the other two cavities may be operated upon, with the portion of the pan not being operated upon extending out through the throat 48 of the female die assembly designated generally at 36. The manner of adjustment of the respective dies to the respective pans, has been fully set out hereinbefore.

While the device has been illustrated and described in some detail in one embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that changes may be made in the minor details of construction and adaptations made to different applications without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a die press apparatus for re-shaping bakery pans, a pair of complementary die members mounted for relative movement with respect to each other, a plurality of rectangular cavities formed in one of said die members, a plurality of rectangular projections on the other of said die members for complementary engagement upon relative movement of one of said die members relative to the other of said die members, means for varying the spacing of said cavities in'one of said die members relative to each other, means for varying the relative spacing of the respective projections on the other of said die members, each of said rectangular projections comprising at least one rectangular center member and one bar member on each side of said rectangular center member, means for adjustably securing each of said bar members with respect to said center member so said rectangular projections will complementarily engage said cavities in said complementary die member when said die members are moved together.

2. In a die press apparatus for re-shaping bakery pans, a pair of complementary die members mounted for relative movement with respect to each other, a plurality of rectangular cavities formed in one of said die members, a plurality of rectangular projections on the other of said die members for complementary engagement upon relative movement of one of said die members with respect to the other of said die members, means for varying one dimension of: each of said rectangular cavities, means for varying one dimension of each of said projections, means for varying the spacing of said cavities in one of said die members relative to each other, means for varying the relative spacing of the respective projections on the other of said die members, each of said projections comprising at least one rectangular center member and one bar member on each side of said rectangular center member, means of adjustably securing each of said bar members with respect to said center member so said rectangular projections will engage said complementary die cavities in the other of said die members when said i die members are moved relative to each other.

3. In a die press apparatus for re-shaping bakery pans, a pair of complementary die members mounted for relative movement with respect to each other, one of said die members comprising a rectangular base plate, at least three longitudinal bars mounted on and attachably secured to said rectangular base plate in spaced apart relation, means of adjusting certain of said longitudinal bars relative to other of said longitudinal bars, at least two bars secured to said base plate intermediate each adjacent two of said longitudinal bars at substantially right angles thereto, means for adjusting said last mentioned bars relative to each other so as to form a rectangular die cavity with said longitudinal bars and rectangular base plate, the other of said die members comprising a head, at least two rectangular projections mounted on and secured to said head a spaced distance apart, each of said projections comprising at least one rectangular center member and one bar member on each side of said center member, means for adjustably securing each of said bar members with respect to said center member so said rectangular projections will complementarily engage said cavities in said complementary die member when said die members are moved together, and means for moving at least one of said die members with respect to the other.

4. In a die press apparatus for re-shaping bakery pans, a pair of complementary die members mounted for relative movement with respect to each other, one of said members comprising a rectangular base plate, at least four longitudinal bars mounted on and attachably secured to said rectangular base plate in spaced apart relation, means for adjusting each of said longitudinal bars relative to each of the other of said longitudinal bars, at least two bars secured to said base plate intermediate each adjacent pair of longitudinal bars at substantially right angles thereto, means for adjusting said last mentioned bars relative to each other so as to form at least two rectangular die cavities, the other of said die members comprising a head, at least two rectangular projections mounted on and secured to said head a spaced distance apart, each of said projections comprising at least one rectangular center member and one bar member on each side of said center member, means for adjustably securing each of said bar members with respect to said center member so said rectangular projections will complementarily engage said cavities in said complementary die member when said pair of die members are moved together, and means for moving at least one of said die members.

5. In a die press apparatus for re-shaping bakery pans, a pair of complementary members comprising male and female dies, said female die comprising a base plate having side bars mounted on said plate at the outer edges thereof, and secured thereto, longitudinal bars mounted on and secured to said base plate intermediate said side bars and spaced apart, transverse bars mounted on said base plate intermediate said longitudinal bars, said transverse bars being secured to said base plate a spaced distance apart, said longitudinal bars and said transverse bars forming a multiplicity of die cavities, and screw means threadably engaging said side bars and extending therethrough for adjustment of the respective longitudinal and transverse bars positioned adjacent thereto.

6. A female die member for use on a die press, said die member comprising a base plate, an outer pair of Ion gitudinal bars on said base plate and having sides sloping downwardly and inwardly toward each other, an inner pair of longitudinal bars between said outer longitudinal bars and attachably secured to said base plate in adjustable relation to each other and said outer bars having sides sloping downwardly toward the sloping sides of said outer bars, longitudinal shims to fill the space between said inner longitudinal bars on the latter being separated by adjustment, and transverse bars in relatively adjustable pairs having sides sloping downwardly and inwardly toward each other between sets of said longitudinal bars, each of said sets including one of said inner longitudinal bars and a corresponding one of said outer longitudinal bars, thus forming a multiplicity of die cavities with said base plate and said longitudinal bars.

7. In a device for re-shaping bakery pans, a complementary die set for use with a die press having a die base member and a ram, longitudinal and transverse bars attachably secured to said die base to form a multicavitydie, the longitudinal bars of which form a land between said cavities, said longitudinal bars being transversely adjustable so as to vary the spacing between said cavities, a complementary male, multi-die member mounted on the lower end of said ram, the projections of said die members are transversely adjustable with respect to each other on said ram, and which male die members complementarily engage the respective cavities of said multi-cavity die.

8. A male die member for use on a die press, said die member comprising: a mounting head, a rectangular center plate member on said mounting head, a longitudinal bar secured to each side of said center plate member and extending beyond the respective ends thereof, a transverse end bar secured to each end of said center plate member intermediate said longitudinal bars, each of said bars being adjustable with respect to said center plate, and shim means adapted to be interposed between the respective bars and said center plate to space said bars in adjusted relation with respect to said center plate member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

